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of the neck are chestnut. The chin, throat, foreneck and upper breast are white, with black streaks across the foreneck and upper breast. The lower breast and belly are buff with black streaks. The back and upper wings are slate-grey, with a chestnut shoulder patch at the bend of the wings when they're closed. The under-wing is pale chestnut. The upper mandible is black and the lores and orbital areas are yellow with a greenish tinge. The eyes are yellow while the legs and feet are black. Juveniles look similar to adults, but are paler. The only heron with somewhat similarly-colorful plumage characteristics, the widespread
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to nest on islands or islands of vegetation. The birds may abandon a nesting site if the island becomes attached to the mainland. Lakes or other large bodies of water usually hold colonies. They nest fairly low in variously sedge, reeds, bushes, trees or even on rocks or large tree stumps. The nesting dispersal seems highly variable as everything from a solitary pair (with no other
Goliath nests anywhere near) to fairly large colonies have been observed, with no seeming local geographical preferences. Occasionally, they may join mixed-species colonies including other
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31:
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421:. The Goliath heron specializes in relatively large fish, with an average prey weight range of 50–980 g (0.11–2.16 lb), averaging 500–600 g (1.1–1.3 lb) and length of 30 cm (12 in). Fish exceeding 1 kg (2.2 lb) are usually rejected, though there is a report that the heron managed to swallow 1.4 kg (3.1 lb) fish. Small fish are generally ignored and the average Goliath catches around 2 or 3 fish a day.
398:, often spearing both mandibles through the fish's body, and then swallows it whole. It is possible that the bill is used in a lure-like fashion occasionally, attracting fish to the static, large object submerged in the water. The handling period is long, with herons often placing their struggling prey on floating vegetation while preparing to swallow it. Due to its generally slow movements and handling time, the goliath is frequently vulnerable to
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to various environmental conditions or predation. The young are fed by regurgitation in the nest and, after a few weeks, can bill jab and practice defensive postures against each other. At around five weeks they leave the nest completely. The parents continue to tend to them for variously 40 to 80 days. Around 62% of fledglings who successfully leave the nest survive to adulthood. Locally, the
359:. It typically is found in shallows, though can be observed near deep water over dense water vegetation. Goliath herons can even be found in small watering holes. They have ranged in elevation from sea level to 2,100 m (6,900 ft). They tend to prefer pristine wetlands and generally avoid areas where human disturbances are a regular occurrence.
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Eggs are pale blue, averaging 72 by 54 mm (2.8 by 2.1 in) and weighing around 108 g (3.8 oz). The clutch size can range from 2 to 5 (usually 3 or 4). Incubation lasts 24 to 30 days. Although they can sometimes replace clutches, often only around 25% of eggs succeed in hatching due
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measures around 24 cm (9.4 in). In flight it has a slow and rather ponderous look and, unlike some other herons, its legs are not held horizontally. Male and female look similar, with an overall covering of slate gray and chestnut feathers. The head and its bushy crest, face, back and sides
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Its breeding season coincides generally with the start of the rainy season, which is around
November to March. In some areas, breeding is year around, with no discernable peak season. Breeding may not occur every year. Fairly adaptable in their nesting site selection, Goliath herons generally prefer
386:
Goliath herons are solitary foragers and are highly territorial towards other herons entering their feeding territories. On occasions, two may be seen together but these are most likely to be a breeding pair or immatures. A diurnal and often rather inactive feeder, this heron often hunts by standing
513:. The breeding displays are not well known and may be subdued, due in part to breeding pairs possibly reunited year after year. The nests are large but often flimsy (depending on available vegetation around the nesting site), often measuring around 1 to 1.5 m (3.3 to 4.9 ft) in diameter.
521:
and the
African fish eagle may be a predator in colonies. Despite their ponderous movements, Goliath herons can think quickly and often take flight before danger approaches. Also, due to its size and formidable bill, the full-grown Goliath heron may not have any regular predators.
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was larger). The height of the goliath heron is 120–152 cm (3 ft 11 in – 5 ft 0 in), the wingspan is 185–230 cm (6 ft 1 in – 7 ft 7 in) and the weight is 4–5 kg (8.8–11.0 lb). The
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herons and it can forage in deeper waters than most due to its larger size. It may also perch on heavy floating vegetation, in order to prevent water from rippling around them. As prey appears, the heron rapidly spears it with open
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The
Goliath heron is very aquatic, even by heron standards, rarely venturing far from a water source and preferring to fly along waterways rather than move over land. Important habitats can include lakes, swamps,
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BonarVMD, Christopher J.; Lewandowski, Albert H. (2004). "Use of a
Liposomal Formulation of Amphotericin B for Treating Wound Aspergillosis in a Goliath heron (Ardea goliath)".
308:, is much smaller than the Goliath. Despite the shared plumage characteristics with the purple species, the closest extant relatives of the Goliath are considered to be the
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Bonar, Christopher J.; Lewandowski, Albert H. (2004). "Use of a
Liposomal Formulation of Amphotericin B for Treating Wound Aspergillosis in a Goliath Heron (
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813:"Parasitofauna of the Egyptian aquatic birds. II. Trematode parasites of the giant heron (Ardea goliath) in Assiut governorate"
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Mock, Douglas W., and
Karilyn C. Mock. "Feeding behavior and ecology of the Goliath Heron." The Auk 97.3 (1980): 433-448.
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have locally been recorded as preferred species. Any other small animals that they come across may be eaten, including
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may be heard with the neck extended. Organ-like duetting has been reported at nest sites but has not been confirmed.
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Hunter Jr., Malcolm L.; Calhoun, Aram; Wilcove, David S. (2004). "Goliath heron fishing with an artificial bait?".
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of
Southern Asia. Due to their large size, this species trio is sometimes referred to as the "giant herons".
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Del Hoyo, Josep, et al. Handbook of the birds of the world. Vol. 1. No. 8. Barcelona: Lynx edicions, 1992.
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in the shallows, intently watching the water at its feet. This is a typical feeding method among large
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Mock, Douglas W.; Mock, Karilyn C. (July 1980). "Feeding
Behavior and Ecology of the Goliath heron".
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Mock, Douglas W.; Mock, Karilyn C. (1980). "Feeding behavior and ecology of the
Goliath heron".
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frequently pirate food caught by goliaths, although other large birds such as
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measures from 18 to 20 cm (7.1 to 7.9 in), while the bill from the
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measures from 21.2 to 25.5 cm (8.3 to 10.0 in) and the
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The Goliath heron has a distinct deep bark, often described as
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10.1675/1524-4695(2004)027[0312:GHFWAA]2.0.CO;2
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averages around 60.7 cm (23.9 in) in length. The
714:. Animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu. Retrieved on 2012-08-23.
327:), sharper and higher, can also occasionally be heard. A
811:
El-Naffar, M. K.; Khalifa, R. M.; Sakla, A. A. (1980).
695:. Avis.indianbiodiversity.org. Retrieved on 2012-08-23.
282:
This is the world's largest living heron (the extinct
637:. Oiseaux.net (2009-10-25). Retrieved on 2012-08-23.
928:
911:
Species text in The Atlas of Southern African Birds
712:University of Michigan- Ardea goliath: INFORMATION
905:Heron Conservation- Goliath heron species profile
564:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22697017A93598961.en
817:Journal of the Egyptian Society of Parasitology
723:(Whitfield and Blaber 1978, Mock and Mock 1980)
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331:is given during the crouched stage, while a
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589:. Bombay: Bombay Natural History Society.
203:
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29:
20:
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743:
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612:Lesser Flamingos: Descendants of Phoenix
1276:Taxa named by Philipp Jakob Cretzschmar
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763:Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery
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653:Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery
266:, with smaller, declining numbers in
7:
1241:IUCN Red List least concern species
550:IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
477:Adult transporting nesting material
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417:Prey almost entirely consists of
262:family, Ardeidae. It is found in
82:
539:BirdLife International (2016).
355:with few cool water, sometimes
1:
686:Goliath heron – Ardea goliath
635:Goliath heron – Ardea goliath
1261:Birds of Sub-Saharan Africa
414:may also steal their prey.
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614:. Springer. p. 104.
373:iSimangaliso Wetland Park
254:, is a very large wading
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79:Scientific classification
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557:: e.T22697017A93598961.
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1174:Paleobiology Database
610:Krienitz, L. (2018).
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250:), also known as the
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487:Kruger National Park
408:saddle-billed storks
314:white-bellied herons
404:African fish eagles
49:Conservation status
519:white-tailed eagle
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485:Fledglings in the
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363:Diet and behaviour
264:sub-Saharan Africa
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1187:SeaLifeBase
1070:iNaturalist
954:Wikispecies
570:12 November
284:Bennu heron
278:Description
252:giant heron
195:Cretzschmar
1235:Categories
1213:Xeno-canto
842:Waterbirds
659:(3): 162.
526:References
499:cormorants
293:wing chord
272:South Asia
862:1524-4695
829:1110-0583
497:species,
461:and even
396:mandibles
268:Southwest
164:Species:
102:Kingdom:
96:Eukaryota
1114:22697017
1088:10913691
1000:22697017
995:BirdLife
939:Wikidata
870:85948753
783:86605251
689:Archived
673:86605251
469:Breeding
412:pelicans
349:wetlands
346:mangrove
312:and the
213:Synonyms
146:Ardeidae
142:Family:
116:Chordata
112:Phylum:
106:Animalia
92:Domain:
69:IUCN 3.1
42:, Kenya
1166:3596743
1127:2767355
1062:2480927
1036:golher1
1010:golher1
982:Avibase
945:Q118608
891:4085837
879:The Auk
804:4085837
792:The Auk
503:darters
463:carrion
459:insects
451:lizards
431:tilapia
339:Habitat
329:huh-huh
321:kowoork
258:of the
152:Genus:
132:Order:
122:Class:
67: (
1251:Herons
1205:212666
1192:166036
1179:401771
1153:212666
1101:174784
1044:EURING
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507:ibises
455:snakes
443:prawns
427:mullet
423:Breams
297:culmen
289:tarsus
197:, 1829
1200:WoRMS
1140:73464
1083:IRMNG
1031:eBird
1023:5VS54
1007:BOW:
887:JSTOR
866:S2CID
800:JSTOR
779:S2CID
669:S2CID
511:gulls
495:heron
439:frogs
390:Ardea
353:reefs
333:krooo
260:heron
157:Ardea
1148:OBIS
1122:NCBI
1109:IUCN
1096:ITIS
1075:4969
1057:GBIF
1049:1250
858:ISSN
825:ISSN
651:)".
616:ISBN
591:ISBN
572:2021
555:2016
509:and
435:carp
433:and
419:fish
410:and
325:arrk
301:gape
270:and
256:bird
240:The
126:Aves
1018:CoL
969:ADW
850:doi
771:doi
661:doi
559:doi
371:At
236:egg
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